Is Your Security Guard’s Licence Actually Legitimate

Is Your Security Guard’s Licence Actually Legitimate? What Operation RESOLUTE Means for Your Business

Is Your Security Guard’s Licence Actually Legitimate? What Operation RESOLUTE Means for Your Business

When was the last time you checked the SIA licence of the security guard working on your premises? Do you know whether their licence is valid, appropriate for their role, and supported by legitimate training? For businesses, overlooking these checks can create avoidable compliance concerns.

The SIA’s Operation RESOLUTE has brought greater attention to malpractice involving private security qualifications and training. This makes it increasingly important for businesses to understand how licence verification works and what to look for when appointing security personnel.

Whether you require Security Guards for Construction Sites or Security Guards for Private Events, proper checks should be part of your security planning from the outset.

What Is Operation RESOLUTE?

Operation RESOLUTE is an SIA enforcement initiative focused on identifying, disrupting and taking action against fraud and malpractice connected with private security training and qualifications. The SIA has described the initiative as involving intelligence-led and proactive inspections of training providers. In 2026, this included unannounced inspections, with the regulator working alongside organisations such as Ofqual and other relevant bodies.

Why Should Businesses Care About a Security Guard’s Licence?

Businesses have a responsibility to ensure that the people they employ or contract for licensable private security work hold the appropriate licence.

The government’s official guidance states that businesses should check whether security staff have the correct SIA licence before hiring them. Employing someone to carry out private security work without the required licence can result in serious legal consequences.

This makes licence verification more than an administrative task. It is part of responsible contractor management. In both situations, businesses need to know that the personnel supplied are appropriately licensed for the work they are performing.

How Can You Check an SIA Licence?

The SIA provides an online licence-checking service that allows businesses to verify security staff. You can search the SIA register using the operative’s 16-digit licence number or, depending on the information available, their surname and other personal details.

Before a guard starts work, businesses should consider checking:

• Whether the individual appears on the SIA register.
• Whether their licence is currently valid.
• Whether the licence category is appropriate for the duties involved.
• Whether the identity of the operative matches the licence details.
• Whether records of checks are retained as part of the business’s compliance process.

A professional security provider should also have its own systems for checking and monitoring employee licences.

Does an SIA Licence Automatically Mean Everything Is Above Board?

The SIA’s recent enforcement activity highlights why businesses should look beyond simply seeing a licence card. The regulator has been addressing concerns around fraudulent qualifications and training malpractice within the private security sector. The SIA has also carried out inspections that identified issues including suspected unlicensed working, a counterfeit licence and licence-condition breaches.

What Should Businesses Ask Their Security Provider?

When arranging security services, ask your provider how they verify their guards’ licences and qualifications.

1. Are all deployed guards SIA licensed?
   The provider should be able to confirm that personnel performing licensable activities hold the appropriate licence.
2. How do you check licence validity?
   Ask whether licence status is checked regularly rather than only when an employee joins the company.
3. Are guards matched to the correct role?
   Different security activities can have different licensing requirements, so the role being performed matters.
4. Do you maintain compliance records?
   A structured provider should have processes for monitoring licences, training and relevant documentation.
5. Can you provide suitable guards for my specific environment?
   Construction sites, private events, retail premises and corporate locations can have very different security requirements.

Choosing Security Guards for Construction Sites and Private Events

The right security provision should reflect the environment being protected.

For construction sites, security requirements may include access control, perimeter monitoring, overnight guarding, protection against theft and mobile patrols. Guards need to understand the particular risks associated with an active or vacant construction environment.

For private events, security may involve entrance management, crowd monitoring, access control and responding appropriately to incidents. The number and type of personnel required will depend on factors such as attendance, venue layout, event duration and risk profile.

Choosing a provider that understands these differences can make security planning more structured and effective.

What Does Operation RESOLUTE Mean for Your Business?

Operation RESOLUTE reinforces an important principle: security compliance should be verified, not assumed. For businesses, this means taking reasonable steps to check the credentials of security personnel and selecting providers that maintain robust licensing and compliance procedures. The SIA’s continuing enforcement work also demonstrates why businesses should take qualification and licensing requirements seriously.

If you are arranging Security Guards for Construction Sites or Security Guards for Private Events, ask your security provider how it verifies its personnel before deployment.

At Servesify, security personnel are subject to licence and training checks, with services including manned guarding, mobile patrols and event security.